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More Than Man’s Best Friend

Susan Grill of Trained and Maintained Shares What Takes to be a Service or Therapy Dog by TERESA SCHIFFER They say that the dog is man’s best friend. If the dog is a service or therapy animal, that’s true in more ways than one. These special pooches save lives, provide assistance and comfort,…
Pop Quiz on Plantar Fasciitis

Putting Your Best Foot Forward on Prevention and Treatment of this Common Source of Pain by ERIKA ALDRICH Our feet are the basis of nearly everything we do, and if you experience recurring foot pain it can put a real damper on your everyday life. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of…
Pets and Partners

Canine Heroes Help their Humans Tread with Care story by CHERYL ROGERS portraits by LUIS BETANCOURT Eighteen-year-old Hailey McDaniel’s dog, Oliver, sure knows how to get his owner’s attention. The yellow labrador whines and paces until McDaniel asks if there’s a problem. Then he’ll tap her right or left hand. McDaniel has Type 1 Diabetes,…

Foot Care Is Key to Preventing Diabetes-Related Amputations

More than 25% of American seniors have diabetes and 10% to 15% of people with diabetes have leg and or foot ulcers. Simple things like managing your diabetes and performing daily foot care can help prevent ulcers, which can be difficult to treat and may eventually require amputation. More than 80% of amputations begin with…
Smoking Can Lead to Amputations

While most people are familiar with the devastating consequences smoking has on their lungs (COPD, cancer), heart (coronary artery disease), or brain (stroke), its direct relation to limb loss escapes public attention! For far too many smokers, the first time they learn of the connection with limb loss is when a vascular surgeon diagnoses them…
Simple Steps for Healthier Vision

by Chelsea Hollier, O.D. May is Healthy Vision Month! Routine eye exams can help your eye doctor prevent, diagnose, and treat vision problems and eye disease in children and adults. In addition, the National Eye Institute recommends several ways to maintain healthy vision. 1. Get an annual dilated eye exam. Having your annual eye exam…